Cushioning unit



1941- E. H. BLATTNER' I 2,242,413

CUSHIONING UNIT Filed July 27, 1938 Patented May 2t), 1941 CUSHIONING UNIT Emil H. Blattner, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Symington-Gould Corporation,

Rochester,

N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application July 27, 1938, Serial No. 221,611

22 Claims.

The present invention relates to a spring or cushioning unit generally adapted for use in a railway vehicle and particularly adapted for disturbing or dampening the harmonic or syn-' chronous action of associated bolster supporting springs in a railway truck or bogie.

An object of the present invention is the provision in a spring or cushioning unit of a preliminary or initial spring resisted compressive movement thereof, and after the unit has been compressed through a predetermined distance ,the remaining compressive movement is frictionally and resiliently resisted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cushioning unit wherein the component parts are unit may oscillate about the normal vertical axis of said unit, thereby compensating for any rocking motion which may be transmitted thereto during service and eliminating any abnormal strains in the unit which, without the present provision, it might be subjected to during use upon any deviation of a superimposed member from a true axial movement.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the component parts of a cushioning device or mechanism that the frictional forces therein are gradually increased during the initial compressive movement of the mechanism and adually decreased durin the initial expansive movement of the mech These as well as numerous other objects will become apparent from the following description considered together with the accompanying drawing, the latter of which forms a part of the present specification and discloses an exemplified form of the invention.

Considering the drawing generally,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a cushioning unit embodyingthe present invention, a portion thereof being illustrated in elevation to more clearly disclose the invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken through a horizontal plane below that of Figure 2 and along the lines 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction v of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of a per t'il - per extremity of the unit in '80 related and associated that a portion of the 'so as to comprise a main web l2 formed as a tion of the. unit removed from an assembled structure to more clearly illustrate the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like parts, the numeral I generally designates a spring or cushioning unit or device including a sleeve or tubular member 2. The tubular member, modeled somewhat after the fashion of a thimble, is provided with an axially disposed bore 3 defined by a casing 4 which is open at one end and has, adjacent the opposite or other end thereof, a closin plate 5. The closing plate 5 is' provided with a central or-outwardly opening recess 5 to receive, when the unit is assembled with associated parts of a railway truck, a spring positioning means (not shown) to thereby retain the upassembled relation with its associated structure. Forming a continuation of the closing plate and extending radially of the sleeve or tubular member is a shelf or flange 6.

The unit also includes a bottom plate or base 1 formed in part by a radially extending shelf or flange 8 which is, in the present embodiment, a counterpart of and oppositely disposed from the tubular member flange 6. The bottom plate or base-has a central cylindrical or embossed portion 9 extending inwardly of the unit to form an outwardly facing relief 9 for the reception of a unit positioning means (not shown) to retain the associated end of the unit in an operable or predetermined position. I

Interposed between and in bearing relation with the tubular member flange 6 and base flange 8 is a helical or coil spring II) which is circumjacent the casing 4 in spaced relation thereto and, during service, resiliently resists the compressive movement of the unit while forming the means for returning the unit to expanded position during the recoil action of the associated bolster springs.

Movably connected to the base 1 and extending into the bore 3 of the casing 4 is a plurality of housing forming, counterpart, segmental shoes II which are normally so arranged that they merely extend partially within and occupy a portion of the casing 4, thereby allowing for a longitudinal movement of the shoes in both directions with respect to the casing or tubular member. Each of the segmental shoes is constructed ring sector in horizontal section and having an outer convex cylindrical surface l3 coaxial with respect to the vertical axis of the unit, the latter of which is represented by the diagrammatic line XX. The outer surfaces I3 are in bearing relation with a correspondingly formed inner concave cylindrical surface M of the casing. Each shoe web has, extending inwardly of the unit from adjacent one or the lower extremity thereoi,

- By such a disposition an angularly disposed lower or bottom flange l5 which partially defines a circular aperture l5.

Upstanding .from and preferably integrally formed with the embossed or cylindrical portion 9 of the base is a centrally disposed button-like protuberance or knob ll forming an upstanding plunger and comprising a throat l8 terminating in a head IS. The throat l8, which occupies the aperture I6, is desirably circular in horizontal section and of a diameter less than the occupied apertures so that the assembled housing forming shoes may be free to move longitudinally of the unit with respect to the base as well as rotate axially thereto. Each shoe flange I5, which underlies the head l9, desirably has an outwardly or downwardly facing spherical concave surface 20 preferably struck from a point located on the vertical axis of the unit and removed from the base I. The concave surfaces 20 are normally spaced from an upwardly facing concentric or correspondingly formed spherical convex surface 2| formed on the embossed r cylindrical portion at the base of the throat l8. of the surfaces 20 and 2| it will be observed that when the unit is initially compressed to a position where the convex and concave surfaces are in intimate contact, the shoes and tubular member may oscillate about the vertical axis of the unit; suflicient clearance being provided between the throat and adjacent edges of the bottom flanges IE to allow such a movement without creating any abnormal strains in the unit. By thus constructing the unit so as to allow the tubular member and shoes to oscillate about a normal vertical axis, the unit will be relieved of abnormal strains which may be created in the assembled structure upon any deviation of a superimposed structure, such as a bolster or loadcarrying member, from a true vertical movement. By providing opposed concave and convex surfaces on the shoes and base cylindrical portion respectively it will be noted that a surface bearing relation exists therebetween when the shoes and base are moved into intimate contact.

Each shoe flange I is also provided with an inwardly or upwardly facing concave surface 22,-

preferably spherical in form, which is struck from a point located on the vertical axis XX of the unit. These concave surfaces 22 are desirably concentric and correspondingly formed with an associated convex surface 23 formed on the underside of the plunger head l9. This association of flange surfaces 22 and the convex surface on the head forms a ball and socket connection between the shoes and base in order to allow for an unrestricted pendulum movement of the shoes and sleeve about the vertical axis of the unit and further, presents a surface bearing of appreciable area between the shoes and plunger when the unitis' in expanded or nearing expanded position.

Completing the housing forming shoes are angularly disposed flanges 24 extending inwardly of the unit from adjacent one or the upper extremity of the shoe webs l2 which, when viewed from the top as most clearly illustrated in Figure 2, are triangular in form. Positioned within the housing formed by the segmental shoes and axially disposed of the unit is a resilient cylinder 25, preferably formed of rubber, and which is of a diameter greater than the normal inner diameter of the assembled shoes when removed from an assembled unit. In this manner the initial compression so as to be capable of normally urging the shoes radially of the unit and retaining the shoe surfaces l3 in bearing relation with the casing surface I4.

When the cylinder is removed from an assembled structure it is desirably formed with flat end surfaces disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the cylinder, and upon compressing the cylinder between the segmental shoes for application to within the casing 4 the rubber mass will flow outwardly of the ends and thus present upper and lower bulged end portions having spherical convex surfaces 26 and 21, respectively, as most clearly illustrated in Figure 1. The upper convex surface 26 desirably abuts or bears against the inwardly directed shoe flanges 24, while the lower convex surface 21 is in bearing relation with an upwardly facing spherical convex surface 28 formed on the plunger head l9. By so arranging the surfaces 26, 21 and 28 it will be observed that chambers 29 are formed within the unit into which the rubber mass will flow during the compressive movement of the unit so as to allow a gradual compression of the cylinder through an initial or predetermined distance while at the same time limiting the component radial prescylinder is, in an assembled structure, under 7 sure exerted upon the segmental shoes. A further result attained by the particular disposition of the surfaces under immediate consideration is that the radial pressure of the rubber cylinder against the shoes will gradually decrease as the unit moves from acompressed to a normal or expanded position.

As will be observed from Figures 2 and 3, the corresponding adjacent edges of the segmental shoes are preferably spaced only a distance sufllcient to effect a breathing or radial movement of the shoes, and in this manner the assembled shoes are free to move radially or inwardly and outwardly of the unit while forming a complete housing for the resilient cylinder.

The radial pressure of the cylinder is such that upon the initial movement or beginning of the compressive stroke, the shoes and tubular member are retained in fixed relation and the downward movement of the sleeve or tubular member is resisted by the coil or helical spring l0 only until the shoe surfaces 20 come into contact with the convolution surface 2!, during which time the plunger moves longitudinally of the unit into the housing formed by the shoes, to further compress the cylinder and gradually increase the resultant radial pressure of the cylinder acting against the shoes. In this manner the pressure urging the shoe surfaces l3 against the casing surface I4 is gradually and appreciably increased so that, upon the shoes reaching the base embossed portion and a continued compressive movement of the unit, the casing will move relatively to the shoes and a frictional-resistance will be created throughout the remaining compressive movement of theunit. It will be observed that after the shoes have engaged the cylindrical portion, the shoes and base remain in fixed relation and as a result thereof the radial pressure of the cylinder will be constant throughout the remaining compressive movement of the unit. Upon the release or expansive movement of the imit, the friction forces acting on thesurfaces l3 and Il are sufflciently great to carry the shoes upwardly with the casing until the concave flange surfaces 22 bear against the convex plunger surface 23. during which time the frictional forces or radial pressure of the cylsaid base, oppositely inder are materially reduced and the coil spring will have suiiicient energy to carry the tubular member to normal position, completing the expanding movement of the unit. It will be noted ing or continued movement of the unit, frictional forces are created by the movement of the tubular member relative to the segmental shoes.

While merely an exemplified form i'of the invention has been disclosed and described, it will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made to the illustrated structure thout departing from within the spirit and sc no of the appended claims. I I

I claim: 1. A cushioning device comprising a tubular member, a base, spring means acting between said tubular member and base, a protuberance upstanding from said base having a throat and head portion, segmental shoes positioned within said tubular member and each having an angularly disposed flange extending inwardly of the device and underlying said head portion, means for urgingsaid 'shoes outwardly of the device, a convex surface on said base, and a concave surface on each of said flanges normally spaced from said base surface so that, upon a compressive movement of said device, said surfaces will engage and thereby allow a portion of said device to oscillate about its normal vertical axis without creating any abnormal strains in said unit. v W; I 2. A cushioning unit comprising a tubular member, a base, spring means acting between said tubular member and base, segmental shoes positioned within said tubular member, 'a plunger upstanding from said base having a throat and head portion, shoes underlying said head portion and spaced radially from said throat, spring means interposed between said shoes for urging them radially of said'unit, and concave surfaces on said flanges normally bearing against a correspondingly formed surface on said head soasto allow a portion of said unit to oscillate about its normal vertical axis.

3. A cushioning device comprising a tubular member, a base spaced. from said tubular member, spring means acting between said tubular member and base for urging them apart, Segmental shoes positioned within said tubiilar member and adapted to move axially and longitudinally of said device with respect to said tubular member and base, a plunger upstanding from disposed flanges extending inwardly of said device from adjacent each end of said shoes, some of said flanges underlying a portion of said plunger, a convex surface on said plunger, and a resilient cylinder positioned within and acting radially against said shoes for urging them against said tubular member, said cylinder having a convex surface in intimate contact with the other of said shoe flanges and said plunger convex surface so as to increase the radial forces of said cylinder-upon a compressive movement of said device.

4. A cushioning device comprisinga tubular member, a base,'spring means acting between said tubular member and base, a protuberance upstanding from said base-having athroat and head portion, shoes positioned within said tubular member and each having an angularly disposedangularly disposed flanges on said said plunger,

flange extending inwardly of said device and underlying and normally engaging said head portion, a resilient cylinder interposed between said shoes for urging them outwardly of said device, a spherical convex surface on said base, and a spherical concave surface on'eachof said flanges concentric with and normally spaced from said base surface so that, upon a compressive move-,

ment of said device, said surfaces will engage and allow a portion of said device to oscillate about its normal vertical axis.-

5.'A cushioning unit comprising a tubular member, a base spaced from said tubular member, housing forming shoes movably associated with said tubular member and base, a plunger on said base and extending within said housing, a convexsurface on said plunger, and a resilient cylinder positioned within said housing and urging said shoes outwardly of saidunit into bearing relation with said tubular member, said cylinder having a convex surface in intimate contact with said plunger convex surface so as to increase the pressure exerted onsaid shoes during the initial compressive movement of said unit.

6. A cushioning device including'a base having a protuberance upstanding therefrom and comprising a throat and head portion, a member spaced from said base, spring means interposed and acting between said base and member, ax-

ially movable means resiliently urged against said member, said means having a flange underlying said head portion and spaced from said throat, and substantially concentric'surfaces on said flange and head portion to allow a portion of said device to oscillate about the normal vertical axis thereof.

7. A cushioning uni-t including a tubular member, a base spaced from said tubular member, spring means acting against said tubular member and base for urging them apart, shoes forming a housing and extending into said tubular member, a plunger upstanding from said base. inwardly directed flanges on'said shoes engaging said shoes being movably associated with said tubular member and base in a direction longitudinally of said unit, a resilient cyl-p inder normally of greater diameter than and positioned within said housing and superimposed on said plunger, said cylinder urging said shoes outwardly of said unit against said tubular member. I.

8, A cushiohingdevice having, in combination, a tubular member, a base having a protuberance upstanding therefrom and comprising a throat I and a head portion, shoes movable axially of said device and extending into said tubular member,

. a flange extending inwardly oi said'device from adjacent one end of each of said shoes, means urging said shoes radially of said device against said tubular member, each of said flanges having surfaces spaced from said throat, and concave inner and outer surfaces adapted 'to engage correspondingly formed surfaces on said head and base respectively so as to 'allow said tubular member and shoes to oscillate about the vertical axis 01' said device when said device-is in expanded or compressed position.

9. A cushioning device comprising a tubular member, a base, spring means acting between said tubular member and base, a protuberance upstanding from said base having a head portion, segmental shoes positioned within said tubular. member and each having an an'gularly disposed flange extending inwardly of said device and underlying said head portion, means for A spherical concave surfaces on urging said shoes outwardly of said device, aconvex end surface on said means, and a convex surface on said head portion in intimate contact with said means convex portion so that, upon a compressive movement of saiddevice, said head portion will compress said means, thereby inmember, a base, spring means acting between said tubular member and base, shoes positioned within said tubular member and adapted to move axially with respect to said tubular member and longitudinally with respect to said tubular member and base, a protuberance upstanding from said base having a head portion, angularl-y dis posed bottom flanges on said shoes underlying said head, an angularly disposed itop flange adiacent an end of each shoe extending inwardly of said device, a rubber cylinder interposed between and acting against said shoes for urging them against said tubular member, said cylinder being superimposed upon said head portion, and a spherical convex surface on said cylinder in bearing relation with said shoe top flanges so that, upon a compressive movement of said device, the radial pressure exerted against said shoes will be gradually increased.

11. A cushioning unit comprising a tubular member, a base spaced from said tubular mem-, ber, resilient means interposed between said tubular member and-base for'urgi segmental shoes forming a housing positioned within said tubular member, means associated with said shoes and base for retaining them in assembled relation, and a resilient cylinder positioned within said housing for urging said shoes radially of the unit, said cylinder having a spherical convex surface in bearing relation with a portion of each shoe so that a compressive movement of said unit will result in an increase of the radial pressure exerted against said shoes and an expansive movement of said unit will result in a decrease in said radial'pressure against said shoes.

12. A cushioning unit comprising a. tubular member having a casing and a radially extending shelf adjacent one end thereof, a base spaced from said tubular member and having a radially extending flange, a helical spring circumjacent said casing and actin against said shelf and flange for urging said tubular member and base apart, counterpart segmental shoes positioned within and adapted to frictionally engage said casing, an embossed portion on said base, a plunger upstanding from said embossed portion and comprising a throat and a head portion, a rubber cylinder interposed between said shoes extending inwardly of said unit from adjacent one end of each shoe and underlying said head, each of said shoe flanges adapted to engage correspondingly. formed surfaces on said head and embossed portion, and a spherical convex surface on said rubber cylinder in bearing relation with a spherical convex surface on said head so that, upon an initial compressive movement of said unit, the resultant radial pressure acting upon creased.

13. A cushioning unit comprising a tubular member, abase, spring means acting between said tubular member and base, segmental shoes positioned within said tubular member and associated with said base, transversely acting sprin creasing the radial pressure exerted against said oes. 10. A cushioning unit comprising a tubular means interposed between said shoes for urg them radially of said unit, and normally spaced a compressive movement of said unit, a portion of said unit to oscillate axis thereof. v 14. A cushioning unit comprising. atubular member, a base spaced from and movable relatively to said tubular member, shoes movable relatively to saidltubular member, each of said shoes havin a web eng said tubular member and inwardly directed spaced flanges, some of said flanges interlocking with said base, and a resilient cylinder interposed between said shoe webs urging them radially of the unit into intimate contact with said tubular member, said resilient cylinder engaging the other of said flanges and said base so that, upon a compressive movement of said unit, said base will urge said resil- 'ient, cylinder against said other flanges to energize said resilient cylinder. I

15. In a cushioning device, in combination, a tubular member, a base spaced fromsaid tubular member, substantially counterpart means movable longitudinally on. said device and interabout the normal vertical locked with said base, transversely acting rubber them apart, I

means urging said substantially counterpart means into engagement with said 'tubular member and adapted to be energized by said base upon a compressive movement of said device, and normally spaced substantially concentric surfaces on said base and counterpart means which are adapted to engage upon a compressive movement of said device and permit a portion of said device to oscillate about its normal vertical axis.

16. A cushioning unit comprising-a member, a base spaced from said member, segmental shoes associated with said member to form an inner housing and provided with means interlocked with said base, a rubber cylinder normally of greater diameter 'than and positioned in said in ner housing so as to be adapted to urge said shoes into intimate contact with said member, said base being adapted to move longitudinally of said unit during a compressive movement thereof, and additional means formed on said shoes adapted to'be engaged by said rubber cylinder upon movement of said rubber cylinder against said addi- 'tional means by said base during a compressive movement of said unit.

1'7. A cushioning unit comprising a member, a base spaced from said member; segmental shoes associated with said member to, form an inner housing and provided with means interlocked with said base, a rubber cylinder normally of greater diameter than and positioned in said inner housing for urging said segmental shoes into intimate contact wtih said member, and spring means reacting against said member and base for urging them apart longitudinally of said unit.

18. In a base member for use with a cushioning device, the combination of a base flange having an embossed portion adjacent its central portion, a threat upstanding from said embossed portion terminating in a head portion, said embossed portion and head portion having confronting arcuate surfaces for permitting an associated part of said device to oscillate about a longitudinal axis of said device.

' 19. In a base member for use with a cushioning device, the combination of a base flange, aplungelement, and addibetween adapted to urge said shoes tional arcuate surfaces on saidhead and base for allowing associated elements to rock about a vertical axis of said device.

20. A cushioning device including a base having a protuberance upstanding therefrom and a throat and head portion, a, member spaced from said base, spring means interposed and acting said base and member, axially movable shoes extending into said member, said shoes each having a flange underlying said head portion and spaced from said throat, said shoes forming a housing within said cushioning device, means associated with said shoes in spaced relation to said flanges, and a rubber cylinder contacting said shoes within said housing and being into intimate contact with said member, said rubber cylinder being in intimate contact with said head portion and means, said rubber cylinder being arranged and constructed so as to effect an increase in the area of contact between the shoes and rubber cylinder and increase the radial pressure of said shoes against said member upon a compressive movement of said cushioning device.

21. In a cushioning device, in combination, a sleeve member having a closed end, axially movable shoe members positioned in said sleeve memher, a plate interlocked with one of said members and being in intimate contact with said shoe members for urging them longitudinally of said device, means formed on said shoe members and spaced from said closed end of said sleeve member, and a deformable rubber means contacting said shoe members and being adapted to urge the latter radially into intimate contact with said sleeve member; said deformable rubber means having an end portion intimately engaging said shoe means; said deformable rubber means being arranged and constructed so as to effect an increase in the area of contact between said shoe members and deformable rubber means to increase the radial pressure of said shoe members against said sleeve member upon a compressive movement of said cushioning device.

22. In a cushioning unit comprising a sleeve member, shoes positioned in and adapted to frictionally engage said sleeve member, a plate mem. ber engaging said shoes and adapted to move the latter longitudinally of said cushioning unit. and

against said sleeve member.

a resilient deformable rubber means positioned within said cushioning unit and in intimate contact with said shoes for urging the latter horizontally and radially into bearing relation with said sleeve member; said resilienlt deformable rubber means having an end arcuate convex surface in bearing relation with surfaces of different formation on said shoes so that upon a compressive movement of said unit the area of contact between said shoes and resilient deformable rubber means will be gradually increased to thereby increase the radial pressure of said shoes Em H. BLATTNER. 

